6 Ways For Young Single Adults To Prepare For Marriage

6 Ways For Young Single Adults To Prepare For Marriage

Marriage is the “M word” in the YSA wards of the Church. As a single LDS guy I live in a culture that stresses the need for marriage, a common problem is that people are often times not ready to get married. They rush in and then it ends in divorce, this causes many young single adults to fear marriage. Everyone will say they want to be married and have a family, but actions speak louder than their words, are you preparing for marriage with your actions? Preparation for marriage, which is the most important decision in life is vital.

No one should be unwise enough to count on an across-the-crowded-room romanticized live-happily- ever-after marriage made without proper thoughtfulness, preparation, and prayer. Marriage is an everyday and every-way relationship in which honesty and character and shared convictions and objectives and views about finances and family and life-style are more important than moonlight and music and an attractive profile.

Elder Marion D. Hanks

1st. Learn How To Sacrifice.

We live in the selfie generation, we are told by the world around us “just do what makes you happy.” But the attitude of “Me! Me! Me! has caused sacrificing to become a lost art. Learning how to sacrifice is the most important thing you do to prepare for marriage. Marriage is putting the needs of others before your own desires. If you are not willing to sacrifice what you want today for a better tomorrow, your actions are saying that you really don’t want marriage. So evaluate what you are spending your time and money on and what can be sacrificed for something better.

“You can have what you want, or you can have something better.”
~Jeffery R. Holland.

2nd. Be Honest With Yourself And Others ALWAYS.

Dishonesty is rampant in today’s culture, it is far easier to tell a white lie than, to tell the truth. But relationships built on lies always fail and bring heartache to all involved. Honesty is the bedrock of any relationship, including your relationship with God. Sacrificing your own comfort by not telling a white lie is hard, but it is a sign of maturity and that you are trying to build real lasting relationships and keep your covenants with God.

Being an honest person is not only admirable and it is also extremely attractive. It will help not just with marriage but every relationship you build in life. In the Temple we covenant with God to be honest, let’s keep that covenant! And if you have not been to the temple then prepare for it by choosing to do the harder right rather than the easier wrong.

“May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.”~Thomas S. Monson

3rd. Be Happy!

Getting married is not a magic pill that will make you happy. If you are not happy now, then marriage will not fix your problems. We were created to have joy, so find joy in the journey by following the Spirit and choosing to be thankful for your blessings! As you are grateful you will find yourself being happy, You would not want to marry a grumpy person, so don’t be one! We have the plan of happiness, let’s follow it!

“If you are not happy living the Gospel, you are not doing it right”
~Elder Anthony D. Perkins

About The Author

Jeremy Goff was born in Denver and raised in Orem, Utah. He served a mission in the Manchester New Hampshire Mission (’12-’14). He is passionate about many things: he blogs, loves food, family, politics, and religion. He travels for work and loves to visit temples and share the gospel along the way!
Follow Jeremy’s journey on his blog www.mylifebygogogoff.com